Shut-off device for wells



ATTORNEY.

- 1932. F. B. ANGELL SHUT-OFF DEVICE FOR WELLS Filed Feb. 5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet Wm M. w mm W 5 5 F m w w. 2 1 E w w I i H 0 AL n 1/ J E 2 w w 6 3 5 M 2 m 4 Fl. J u 3 1 a m B M n w. 1

Jan. 26, 1932. B ANGELL SHUT-OFF DEVICE FOR WELLS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 3, 1930 IN-VENTOR. EB. fi/VGEL L.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 26, 1932 FRANK B. ANGIELL, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA SHUT-OFF DEVICE FOR WELLS Application filed February 8, 1930. Serial No. 425,481.

This invention relates to improvements in shut-off devices.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved shut-off device for use on oil wells.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shut-01f device which is adapted to be automatically actuated to a position to close the well aperture upon a blow-out of the well'. A more specific object of my invention is to provide a cut-off device wherein a pivoted closure is provided for shutting off a well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which includes automatic means for operating it to a closed position and electrical means, manual means and remotelyoperated means for operating it toa closed position.

Other objects and the advantages of this invention will be apparent from the follow- 7 ing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

ig. 1 1s a central vertical section through my improved shut-off device.

-Fig. 2 is a reduced section. taken on line 22 of Fig. '1.

Fig. 3 is a'view similar to Fig. 1 with the various mechanical valve closing means associated with this device.

Fig. 4 is a reduced elevation showing the opposite side of the device.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of-Fig. 4:.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged top plan viewof a por tion of the electrically operated closing means. Fig. 7 is an'enl-arged top plan view of the manually operated closing means, and Fig. 8 is an end view-of the manually operated closing means with parts broken away. Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have indicated my. improved shut-off device generally at 10. As shown this device comprises a body portion 12 having a cap 13 secured thereto as by bolts 14 and nuts 15. The body portion 12 includes an enlarged portion 16 which tapers down to a reduced neck 17 having an aperture 18 therein. The neck 17 is shown as including a flange ,19 whichis secured by bolts 20' and nuts 21 to a flange 22 of a collar 23 which is shown as mounted on a well casing 24 and secured theilrleto by screw threaded engagement therewit The devicelO may be secured directly to the well casing as shown or it may be suitably mounted above a casing head. .The cap 13 includes a reduced neck 25 in which a conically shaped aperture26 is provided.

The body aperture 18 and the small portion of the cap aperture 26 are preferably of a diameter greater than the diameter of the inside of the casing 2 1 so that the well operating tools may readily pass therethrough.

At one side of the ho y portion 12 I provide a flanged outlet 27 to which by bolts 28 and nuts 29 I secure a control valve 30 which is preferably connected to a suitable pipe line which may extend to a sump or reservoir and which I preferably. includes other control valves along its length.

out a casing head the circulating fluid may flow up from the casing into the body 12 and thence out through the outlet 27 to a suitable sump. I I

The cap 13 has a shaft 32 thereon and on this shaft I pivot a gate 33 which is adapted to swing about the'axis of the shaft 32 and seat against the smooth under face 34 of the cap and obstruct the passageway through the cap aperture 26.

The gate 33 is so arranged that when it is in an open position as shown in Fig. 1 it will be without the warped cylindrical surface passing through the aperture 18 and having the same diameter as the apertures 18 and 26.

To retain the gate 33 in an open position I provide thereon a bar 35 having an enlarged head 36 which is adapted tobe releasably engaged by a spring jaw 37 secured to alug 38 on the body portion 12. The lug 38 also retains the gate 33 out of engagement with the body portion 12 so that between the gate and the body there is a space as indicated at 39.

The end of the gate 33 adjacent the shaft 32 is preferably rounded coaxial with the shaft and the cap is provided with a boss 40 having tioned on a well and a blow-out occurs the upward thrust of the gas or fluid pressure in the well tends to swing the gate 33 upward about the axis of the shaft 32; Also a portion of the gas or fluid enters the space 39 and as a result releases the head 36 of the bar 35 from the spring jaw 37, whereupon the gate swings upward against'the surface 34 of the cap as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and closes the passageway through the cap aperture 26 thereby causing the fluid or gas to pass through the outlet 27 which may be partially or fully closed by the control valve 30 In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 I have indicated a modified form of my device generally at 45. This device is, in the main, similar to the device 10 and the parts thereof are correspondingly numbered. The gate 33 of the device is secured to the shaft 32 in any suitable manner such as by a pin 46 and one end of the shaft extends beyond the cap 13 and has a gear 47 secured thereto.

In the drawings I have shown three separate means for rotating the gear 47 and I will now proceed to describe these means.

For electrically operating the gear 47 I provide an electric motor 48 which is adapted to be operatively connected to a source of electrical energy and provided with suitable control switches. On the armature shaft 49 of the motor 48 I provide a driving mechanism 50 which is shown in detail in Fig. 6. and is similar to the well known Bendix starter drive. The driving mechanism 50 includes a pinion gear 51 which is normally out of mesh with the gear 47 but which upon actuation of the motor travels forwardly on a threaded shaft 52 into mesh with the gear 47 and drives the gear 47. As the gear 47 rotates it turns the shaft 32 which swings the gate 33 upward. When the head 36 of the bar 35 is released from the spring jaw 37 the fluid pressure in the device will force the gate 33 upward faster than the motor does whereupon as the gear 47 rotates faster than the pinion gear 51 the pinion gear will travel rearwardly on the threaded shaft 52 out of engagement with the gear 47.

For manually rotating the gear 47 I provide a gear 54 which meshes with the gear 47 and is loosely mounted on a shaft 55 supported by the housing 12. Secured to the gear 54 I provide a ratchet 56 which is adapted to be engaged by a plurality of pawls 57 pivotally mounted on a disk 58. The disk 58 is shown as retained in position on the shaft by a collar 60 which is secured to the shaft by a set screw 61.

When the disk 58 is rotated in the correct direction the pawls 57 engage the ratchet 56 and rotate the ratchet with the disk thereby rotating the gear 54 which in turn rotates the gear 47.

After the gate 33 has been released from the spring jaw" 37 the fluid pressure in the device will move the gate faster than it is being moved by the hand crank whereupon the gear 54 will be rotated faster but as the pawls 57 are pivoted the ratchet 56 will pass them without disturbing the disk and hand crank. Furthermore in this same manner the hand crank will not be rotated when the electrical means is used to close the gate 33.

For remotely actuating the gear 47 to cause it to closethe gate 33 I provide a stud 63 on the gear 47. One end of a cable 64 is secured to the stud 63 and the cable is supported above the gear 47 on a pulley 65 which may be supported in any desired mannor. From the pulley 65 the cable may excable 64 is pulled it rotates the gear 47 a part of a revolution which is enough to close the gate 33.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel shutoff device which is simple in constructionand highly efiicient in use..

What I claim is:

1. In a shut-0E device, a housing, the lower portion of said housing being tapered to a reduced neck having an aperture, said housing having an aperture in the top coaxial with said first aperture, said housing having alateral outlet therein, a gate, means to pivotally support said gate in said housing, said gate being adapted to. normally depend in a position to allow free passage through the device from said first to said second aperture, saiggate being adapted to be moved into a p sition to obstruct the passageway through said cap aperture, and means to resiliently retain said gate in an open position.

2. In a shut-off device, a housing, the lower portion of said housing being tapered, a cap on said housing, means to secure said cap to said housing, there being an aperture in said cap and an aperture in said housing, said housing having an outlet and a gate, said gate being pivotally supported within said housing, said gate being adapted to normally depend ina position to allow free passageway through the device from the housing aperture to the cap aperture, said gate being adapted to be moved into a position to 0bstruct the passage through said cap aperture.

3. In a shut-ofi' device, a housing, the lower portion of said housing being tapered and having an aperture therein, a cap on said housing, means to secure said cap to said housing, there being an aperture in said cap coaxial with said housing aperture, a lateral outlet in said housing, a gate pivotally supported within said housing, said gate being adapted to normally allow free passage through the device from the housing aperture to the cap aperture, said gate being adapted to be moved into a position to obstruct the passageway through said cap aperture and releasable means to retain said gate in an open position.

4. In a shut-off device, a housing, the lower portion of said housing being tapered, a cap on said housing, means to secure said cap to said housing, said capand said housing having aligning apertures, an outlet in said housing, a gate, a shaft in said cap, said gate being arranged on said shaft, said gate being adapted to normally depend in a position to allow .free passageway through the device from the housing aperture to the cap aperture and said gate being adapted to be moved into a position to obstruct the passageway through said cap aperture, a bar on said gate, said bar including an enlarged head, a spring jaw on said housing, said spring jaw being adapted to engage said enlarged head and resiliently retain said gate in an open position.

5. In a shut-off device, a housing, the lower portion of said housing being tapered to a reduced neck, an aperture in said neck, a cap on said housing, means to secure said cap to said housing, an aperture in said cap coaxial with said housing aperture, an outlet in said housing at an angle to said aperture therein, a gate, a shaft supported by said cap, said gate being'secured to said shaft, said gate being adapted to normally depend in a position -to allow free passageway through the device from the housing aperture to the cap aperture, and said gate being adapted to move into a position to obstruct the passageway through said cap aperture, means to retain said gate in an open position, electrical means, mechanical means and manual means to rotate said shaft, each of said means being operable without interfering with the other.

6. In a shut-off device,'a housing, the lower portion of said housing being tapered to a reduced neck, there being an aperture in said neck, a cap on said housing, means to secure said cap to said housing, there being an aperture in said cap coaxial with said housing aperture, an outlet in said housing, a gate, a shaft supported by said cap, said gate being secured to said shaft, said gate being adapted to normally depend in a position to allow free passageway-through the device from the housing aperture to the cap aperture, and said gate being adapted to be moved into a position to obstruct the passageway through said cap aperture, a bar on said gate, said bar including an enlarged head, a spring jaw on said housing, said spring jaw being adapted to engage said enlarged head and retain said gate. in an open position, a gear secured to said shaft,'an electric motor, a pinion gear on the armature shaft of said motor, said pinion gear upon actuation of said motor being adapted to move into mesh with said gear and upon stopping of said motor to move out of mesh with said gear.

7. In a shut-01f device, a housing, the lower portion of said housing being tapered, an aperture in said housing, a cap on said housing, means to secure said cap to said housing, an aperture in said cap coaxial with said housing aperture, an outlet in said housing at an angle to said aperture therein, a gate, a shaft supported by said cap, said gate being secured to said shaft, said gate being adapted to normallydepend in a position to allow free passageway through the device from the housing aperture to the cap aperture, said gate being adapted to be moved into a position to obstruct the passageway through said cap aperture, a bar on said gate, said bar including an enlarged head, a-spring jawon said housing, said spring aw being adapted to engage said enlarged head and resiliently retain said gate in an open position, a gear secured to said shaft, an electric motor, a pinion gear on the armature shaft of said motor, means whereby said pinion gear upon actuation of said motor Wlll move into mesh with said gear and upon stopping of said motor will move out of mesh with ,said gear, a third gear, said third gear being in mesh with said first gear and being rotatably mounted on a stud shaft, means to support said stud shaft, a ratchet secured to said gear, a disk rotatably mounted on said stud shaft, a plurality of pawls pivotally secured to said disk, means to resiliently retain said pawls in engagementwith said ratchet, a crank handle on said disk and means to retain said disk in position on said stud shaft, a stud on said first gear, a cable secured to said stud and'a pulley positioned above said first gear and said cable extending over said pulley.

8. In a shut-01f device, a housing, the lower portion of said housing having an aperture,

said housing having an aperture in the topsignature.

FRANK B. ANGELL. 

